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GAY/LESBIAN POLITICS Political Science Y396 (#3476), Spring 2002
Course description, goals, and format The modern gay and lesbian movement was born in the New York City Stonewall riots of 1969. More than 30 years after what began as an angry and disorganized appeal for basic human dignity, gays and lesbians have entered the mainstream of American politics. At the ballot box, in Congress, state legislatures, schools, and the courts, and via the media, popular culture, protest rallies, and organizations from Washington to college campuses, they are gaining recognition, challenging institutions, and asserting claims to rights and protections under law. Suddenly gay and lesbian issues -- ballot initiatives over non-discrimination laws, hate crimes, marriage, AIDS funding, others -- occupy a prominent place in mainstream political debate. Yet gays and lesbians remain the nation's most controversial, misunderstood, and disliked minority, and most Americans remain ambivalent and conflicted over the gay movement's struggle for rights and visibility. The purpose of this course is:
Class format will be primarily seminar and discussion, with some lecture. The course will incorporate videos and possibly a guest speaker or two, and students are encouraged to explore substantial additional resources available on the Web.
Attendance and participation. Simply put, it will be difficult to get much out of this class, including a reasonable grade, without conscientious attendance and participation. Attendance will be noted at each class period. Because of the seminar nature of this course, your active participation is essential. Late arrivals or early departures without explanation are impolite to your classmates as well as the instructor, and I appreciate your letting me know in advance if important circumstances require either. Readings. Each week's reading will form the basis for in-class lecture and discussion. It is expected that you will have completed all the assigned reading before each class, and that you will come prepared to thoughtfully listen, speak, and learn. I will distribute questions for discussion via email no later than the Saturday before each class meeting, and I will typically call on several of you at the beginning of a class period, perhaps at other points as well, to summarize or react to particular readings assigned for that week. Respect for opposing views. The purpose of this course is not advocacy, but rather in-depth and rigorous examination and discussion of issues. The classroom is a place for open, vigorous, and civil discussion. Seminar members are asked to help maintain it as such. Readings Three texts are required: a custom-produced TIS reader, plus two paperback text books,
Some additional required readings also will be distributed in class or via e-mail. Grading and Intensive Writing credit Course grades will be assigned as follows:
Since this is an Intensive Writing Class, it’s important that you think of these take-home exams like papers. The exams will serve two purposes: 1) to demonstrate that you have assimilated and understood the readings as well as key points make in lecture/discussion, and 2) to assess and improve your ability to write clear, well-organized essays. Quality of writing – as well as attention to spelling and grammar – will count. Opportunities to re-write essays may be discussed with the instructor for students wishing to improve their writing as well their grade. Excellent assistance with writing is available through Writing Tutorial Services (WTS) in Ballantine 206; phone 855‑6738; or on the web at www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/ Exams are due at class time and may be handed in then or e-mailed before class (as document attachments) to sanderss@indiana.edu (note extra “s” after “sanders”). Late exams will be graded down by 2 percentage points for each day late (i.e., an exam two days late will be worth 21% of the overall course grade; the remaining points are forfeited). Extensions may be discussed only under very serious (and verifiable) circumstances, and will be made at the instructor’s discretion. Final grades will be based on a standard scale: A+ (100-98), A (97-93), A- (92-90), B+ (89-88), B (87-83), B- (82-80), C+ (79-78), C (77-73), C- (72-70), D+ (69-68), D (67-63), D- (62-60), F (<60).
Web and internet resources on gay/lesbian politics The instructor maintains an extensive page of web and internet resources on GLBT politics and law, including links to daily news reports and information on the full range of GLBT political and legal issues. You can find it at: www.gaypoliticsandlaw.com. Academic misconduct Fabrication, plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration,
interference with another student's work, or other forms of academic misconduct
will be dealt with under the strictest terms provided for under IU policy, i.e.,
in most cases, a failing grade and a formal report to the Dean of Students
office. These issues are addressed in IU’s academic misconduct policy, part of
the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, available at
campuslife.indiana.edu/Code/index1.html GLBT Office library The friendly and helpful folks at IU’s Office of Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Student Support Services maintain a small but very good library of books (fiction and non-fiction), magazines, videos, and other materials on a wide range of GLBT issues. The office, open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., is at 705 E. 7th Street (across from Dunn Meadow); phone 855-4252; or on the web at www.iub.edu/~glbt/office.htm. The office library web site is www.indiana.edu/~glbtlib. About the instructor Steve Sanders studied journalism, political science, and higher education administration as an undergraduate and graduate student at IU. He has worked in the IU administration since 1986 and currently serves as an Assistant Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences as well as on the staff of the Bloomington campus Chancellor. At IU he has taught courses on gay/lesbian politics, American politics, news writing, and problems and issues in higher education. In 2000-01 he chaired an IU working group whose work led to adoption by IU of domestic partner benefits. On a volunteer basis, Mr. Sanders serves as Indiana state coordinator for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT political group. He is also a board member of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union and formerly chaired the City of Bloomington’s Human Rights Commission. In Fall 1995 he argued (and won) in a mock trial on same-sex marriage at the IU School of Law. Mr. Sanders has also worked for more than 10 years with Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and has received IUSA's Jimmy L. Ross Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Life.
The following information is subject to change.
FIP =
From Identity to
Politics
January 7 – Introductions; course overview
January 14 -- History of the
modern gay/lesbian movement;
sexual identity January 21 – Martin Luther King holiday – no class January 28 – Homosexuality and American
culture
February 4 – “Assimilation” and its
discontents February 11 -- Video documentaries on gay/lesbian history EXAM I due (no additional reading assignment) February 18 – Going to court: Legal-rights
strategies; the Supreme Court February 25 – Gay politics as social change March 4 – The religious right and other
opponents March 11 — SPRING BREAK March 18 – Marriage, domestic partnership,
civil unions
March 25 -- Hate crimes
EXAM II due (no additional reading assignment) April 1 – Congressional politics: ENDA and
DOMA April 8 – Party time: Stonewall vs. Log Cabin
April 15 – Gay issues in state and local politics April 22 – Family, children, and gay
citizenship
FINAL EXAM DISTRIBUTED Additional reading for final
exam:
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